Novelty light-up toy

ABSTRACT

A light-up toy including a housing, a base connected thereto, a light source assembly rotatably mounted within the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing, a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board, a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the power source, a power source disposed within the base for supplying power to the motor, a unit disposed within the handle and connected to the motor and to the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when the motor is turned on, a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly, and a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, to simulate snow fall.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/440,451, which claims priority to provisional application No.60/684,208, the entirety of both applications being incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a novelty light-up toy which includesan assembly including a plurality of rotating illumination sources,which form a variety of light patterns during operation, a fan extendingfrom the assembly, and a plurality of particles that move about the toyduring operation.

BACKGROUND

There are known types of novelty items or toys that have lights thatspin and are selectively turned on and off in patterns, some of whichare mentioned in the copending application Ser. No. 11/440,451. Otherprior art patents and publications set forth the concept of particlessimulating snow flakes that are circulated within a globe by a fluidimpeller or fan that drives to fluid. The fluid may be liquid or air invarious of the documents.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,908 to Powell et al. relates to ananimated displaying having a display chamber 14 within which areparticles 16 that are propelled throughout the chamber to stimulatesnow. A fan 26 draws air into the chamber and the fan 24 providesadditional lifting force to the particles creating an animated blizzard.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,078 to Cassidy is a toy vacuum cleaner havingpolystyrene beads 60 that circulate due to a fan 40 between a cone 28and an outer transparent container 20 to stimulate dust and/or dirt.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,820 to White et al. is a snow globe that includesparticles 2 that are dispensed throughout the globe by a circulatingfluid 3 that apparently is water (since a “watertight” seal is providedbetween the base and the globe enclosure).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,151 to Yuen discloses a snow circulating ornamentaldisplay in which the snow particles are circulated by a fluid (liquid) Wthat is agitated by a rotating plate UDW carrying ornament F.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,908 to Pineda-Sanchez et al. et al. is a snow globe.The globe contains a liquid and particles to simulate snow. A motordriven rotating member 28 or fan impeller provides turbulence to thewater to create movement of the particles.

U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0111011 to Wang relates to an inflatabledecorative device in which Styrofoam particles are air-blown by ablowing device 20 having a fan 21 and a spraying pipe 31 that sprays theparticles from the top of the chamber 3.

U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0128258 Zebert et al. is a snow globedecoration similar to U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,065,908, 6,357,151 and 6,282,820.

U.S. Patent Publication 2006/0283062 to Moomaw has inner and outerinflatable members between which particles 16 simulating snow arecirculates by an air fan 38.

U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0207700 to Ellis relates to a snow globetoy, FIG. 3 in which a motor opened fan 33 blows particles simulatingsnow throughout the globe 330.

SUMMARY

Briefly, the invention is characterized in particular by a light-up toyincluding a see-through housing, a base connected to the see-throughhousing, and a light source assembly rotatably mounted within thesee-through housing, the light source assembly comprising a housing anda printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The toy furtherincludes a plurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuitboard, a motor disposed within the handle and connected to the powersource, having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a power sourcedisposed within the base for supplying power to the motor, a rotationmeans disposed within the handle and connected to the motor shaft, andto the printed circuit board assembly for rotating the printed circuitboard assembly when the motor is turned on, and an on/off switch on thebase for selectively activating the power source and the motor. The toyalso includes a fan extending outwardly from the light source assembly,and a plurality of particles contained in the housing formed of alight-weight material, wherein when the light source assembly rotates,the plurality of particles are blown about the housing by the fan, tosimulate snow fall. According to one embodiment, the fan is formed of aclear, light-weight plastic sheet, and the light source assembly is inthe shape of a Christmas tree.

According to one embodiment, a music box including the above-describedlight-up toy and a music assembly that plays music when turned on isprovided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of the invention and additional objects andadvantages thereof, reference is made to the following detaileddescription and accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment, wherein

FIG. 1 is a side view of the light-up toy, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another side view of the light-up toy of FIG. 1 in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the light-up toy of FIG. 1, in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 provides an interior view of the handle of the light-up toy inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the see-through housing and the lightsource assembly contained therein, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 provides a side view of a light-up toy having a light sourceassembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 provides a detailed view of the interior of the handle inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective exploded view of a handle in accordancewith another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective exploded view of the handle in accordancewith the embodiment shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A-B are perspective views of the handle in accordance with theembodiment shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10C-F are plan views of the handle in accordance with theembodiment shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a hand-held toy according to one embodiment ofthe invention; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of a music-box toy according to one embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be described in general with reference to FIGS. 1-7,which illustrate various embodiments of the novelty light-up toy 1according to the present invention. Referring now in detail to thedrawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the light-up toy 1, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, which includesa see-through housing 4 that permits a three-dimensional view of therotating light source assembly when the toy is in use. The housing 4 canbe in any desired shape, for example, dome-shaped. Other shapes arepossible, within the scope of the invention, including a snowman shape,Santa Claus shape, and the like.

Disposed within the housing 4 is a rotatably mounted light sourceassembly 20 comprised of a wing portion 3 and an arch portion 2extending from one end of the wing portion 3. The light source assembly20 comprises a printed circuit board 13 disposed therein. The printedcircuit board 13 has a shape that fits within the light source assembly20. Affixed to the printed circuit board 13 is a series of light sources7 designed to illuminate when the light source assembly 20 rotates. Thelight sources 7 may be comprised of light emitting diodes, or othersuitable light sources. The light sources 7 may be provided in aplurality of colors to create a colorful visual effect. The printedcircuit board 13 includes an integrated circuit (IC, not shown), whichincludes a program to cause the light sources 7 to light up at differentintensities and different intervals, causing patterns to appear in thelight as the light source assembly 20 rotates. The IC is an off theshelf component, which can be purchased, for example, from MUPACDevelopment Ltd., in Hong Kong, China, model # MD—264.

An additional pair of light sources 6 is found at the ends of twoflexible, rotatable arms 5. These arms 5, preferably constructed of PVCor similar flexible, or semi-flexible material, are located directlybeneath the housing 4 of the toy. Disposed within the handle 8 accordingto the embodiments in FIGS. 4 and 7 is a printed circuit board 34, whichcontrols operation of the motor 12. In one embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, the light source assembly 20 is connected to the motor shaft 22,so that the light source assembly 20 rotates when the motor is turn onby the on/off switch 9. In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7,both the flexible arms 5 and the light source assembly 20 are connectedto a series of gears 14 and a motor 12, which cause the arms 5 and lightsource assembly 20 to rotate upon activation of an on/oft switch 9(shown in FIG. 1). The arms 5 may be different lengths so that as thearms rotate, an oval appearance of the lights sources 6 is created.

As seen for example in FIG. 1, the on/off switch 9 is located on thehandle 8 of the toy 1. The handle 8 may be further enhanced with aseries of corrugated ridges 10 or other similar grip-facilitatingfeatures. The handle may be made of a rigid plastic material, or anothersimilar suitable material.

Disposed within the handle 8 is a power source 25 for the toy 1, as wellas the motor 12 that rotates the light source assembly 20 and theflexible arms 5. Preferably, the power source 25 comprises severalbatteries 15 (FIG. 7), although alternate sources are also possible. Asshown in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 7, the batteries 15 are locatedalongside and below the motor 12. As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, wire30 connects the motor 12 to the battery contact 32. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 4, the motor shaft 24 is connected to an armature 26,which in turn is connected to the light source assembly 20 (see, e.g.,FIG. 5). The armature is connected to the motor shaft contact 27, whichis in turn connected to the motor 12 via wire 28, which is in turnconnected to the motor 12 via wire 28, so that the light source assembly20 rotates when the motor is turned on by the on/off switch 9.

Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, directly above and incontact with the power source 20 and motor 12 is a series of gears 14that permit rotation of the light source assembly 20 and the flexiblearms 5. The gears 14 rotate upon the user's activation of the on/offswitch 9 on the exterior portion of the handle 8. Placing the switch 9in the on position closes the circuitry connecting the batteries 15 tothe motor 12. The motor 12 then causes the gears 14 to rotate, which inturn rotates the light source assembly 20 and the flexible, rotatablearms 5. Simultaneously, the light sources 7 disposed along the arch 2and wing 3 portions of the light source assembly 20, as well as thoselight sources 6 at the ends of the flexible arms 5 illuminate, creatinga Saturn-like light display. According to the present invention, thearms 5, the housing 4, and the light source assembly 20 all spintogether at the same time. This allows for cost efficiency and alsoprovides a unique visual effect.

According to one embodiment, the handle portion 8 holds 3 AAA batteries.However, other battery configurations are possible.

It is also a preferred embodiment of the present invention that theflexible arms 5 have a single light source 6 disposed only at theirends. The light sources 6 may be light emitting diodes or other similardevices. However, the invention also contemplates the use and placementof additional light sources 6 along the length of the flexible arms 5,or more than two arms, if a more complex lighting display pattern isdesired.

The printed circuit board 13 is shown in FIG. 5 as having a half-archshape (arch 2), extending from a wing 3 at one end thereof. However, the“arch 2 and wing 3” configuration of the light source assembly 20 withinthe dome 4 may be modified. FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of thetoy 1 in which the light source assembly 20′ has a wing 3′, a connectingsection 30 having one end connected to one of the wing 3′, and an arch2′ extending from the second end of the connecting section 30. As in theembodiment of FIG. 5, the printed circuit board (not shown) is shaped tofit within the light source assembly 20′.

Another embodiment of the handle is shown in FIGS. 8-10. In thisembodiment, the front handle body 101 includes a recess 112 in which theon/off button 103 sits. Inside the recess 112 is a through-hole 114,through which the slide switch 104 passes when the handle is assembled.The two halves of the handle body, front handle body 101 and back handlebody 102 are assembled with all of the parts placed in the respectivecavities (as will be described), and the handle bodies are fixedtogether using screws (not shown) that are inserted into the protrusions150 and 152 and tightened until the handle is securely closed.

The slide switch 104 includes a peg 118 protruding from one side (FIG.8) and a contact pad 120 protruding from the other side (FIG. 9). On aninner side of the button 103 is a seat 116 (FIG. 9), into which the peg118 formed on one side of the switch 104 (FIG. 8) is inserted. Thecontact pad 120 comes into contact with the printed circuit board 105.The printed circuit board 105 is connected, via wire 122, to the motor106. The motor 106 sits on motor seat 134 when the handle is assembled.The printed circuit board 105 fits in the handle between the motor 106and a top contact plate 128.

Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the motor shaft 124 isconnected to an armature (not shown), which in turn is connected to thelight source assembly 20 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). The armature is connectedto the motor shaft contact 107, which is in turn connected to the motor106 via wire 126.

The top contact plate 128 forms the top of the battery compartment 136.A battery chamber divider 109 is provided to separate the batterycompartment 136 into separate chambers, one for each battery 108. Abattery door 110 is removably connected via a screw (not shown) that canbe inserted and tightened in corresponding openings 138 and 140 in thebattery door 110 and back handle body 102, respectively.

As seen in FIG. 8, the contact plate 128 is connected via wire 130 tothe motor 106. A bottom contact plate 144 is positioned at the bottom ofthe battery compartment 136 and is connected via wire 132 to the printedcircuit board 105. A wire 142 connects the bottom of the top contactplate 128 where one of the batteries contacts the contact plate 128, tothe top of the contact plate 128. The wires 130, 132, and 142 serve toelectrically connect the power source (in this case, three batteries) tothe motor 106 and printed circuit board 105, so as to provide them withpower when the on/off switch 103 is turned on.

FIGS. 10A-B are perspective views of the handle in accordance with theembodiment shown in FIG. 8. FIGS. 10C-G are plan views of the handle inaccordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate improvements over the embodiments of FIGS.11-10, in which the toy includes not only the rotating light sources,but a fan that blows particles contained in the housing around tosimulate snow fall. In particular, FIG. 11 illustrates a hand-held toyaccording to another embodiment of the invention. A base or handle 201is included, which can be the same as handle 101 or handle 10 shown inFIGS. 1-11. The construction of the handle 201 and the components withinthe handle to rotate the light source assembly 220 will not be repeatedhere, since the components and operation thereof are the same for thisembodiment as for the embodiments discussed above.

According to one embodiment, the light source assembly 220 is in theshape of a Christmas tree, and may be covered by a green decorativesheet oil both sides. Alternative configurations, such as a SantaClause, or snowman, are also within the scope of the invention. Thelight source assembly 220 may be constructed of two halves made of arigid material, such as plastic, which hold a printed circuit board (notshown) between them. Light sources 222 are connected to the printedcircuit board and extend from the printed circuit board toward theoutside of the light assembly, similarly to the light sources describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1-10.

Also extending outwardly from the light assembly 220 is a fan 240. Thefan 240 may be made of a clear plastic, light weight sheet, such as apolyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets. The fan 240 is shown in a circularshape, but can be any shape within the scope of the invention.

Particles 230 are contained within the see-through housing 4. Particles230 may be bead shaped, or flat, and are made of a light weightmaterial, such as vacuum metallized PVC, or Styrofoam®. The housing 4contains only air; no liquid is provided. Because the particles 230 arelight-weight, when the light assembly 220 rotates, when the toy isoperated, the particles 230 are blown around the housing 4, simulating asnowfall effect.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 12, which is a music box 200. Inparticular, an electronic or mechanical tabletop musical novelty devicewith synchronized light source and spinning Christmas holiday scene isprovided, with particles, such as beads, blown around to depict theillusion of snow. Inside the housing portion may be a series ofpictorial elements (not shown), such as snowmen, Christmas trees or thelike. A light source assembly is rotatably provided in the center of thehousing, which includes a plurality of spinning LEDs or other lightsources that illuminate the pictorial elements inside the housingportion. Located underneath the unit is the electronic or mechanicalelectronic on/off switch.

According to one embodiment as shown in FIG. 12, on top of the base 202is a see-through housing 204, similar to the housing 4 discussed above.The base 202 includes a music assembly 250. Music assembly 250 is aconventional music box assembly, which can be turned on by means of aswitch (not shown) located on the bottom of the base 202. Although inone embodiment, the music assembly is operated by a separate switchlocated on the bottom of the base 202 (not shown) than the switch thatoperates the light source assembly 220 (also located on the bottom ofthe base 202 and not shown), the music assembly 250 may be operativelyconnected to the light source assembly 220 so that one switch turns bothdevices on synchronously.

Although all the figures show a dome-shaped housing portion 4, it iscertainly possible to utilize an alternate shape, such as a pyramid, andperhaps a transparent but colored dome 4 or pyramid, so long as theshape and color allow the user a 3-D view of the printed circuit board13 and light sources 7, or the light source assembly 220. The number andplacement of the light sources 6, 7, 222 along the flexible arms 5 andprinted circuit board 13 or connected to the assembly 220, respectively,may also be modified, according to the lighting display desired.

The light source assemblies 20, 220 may be made of a rigid material,such as plastic. Decorative sheets may be adhered to the outer surfaceof the light source assemblies 20, 220. These sheets can be solid opaquefilm sheets or they could be in the form of images or patterns. Inaddition, without departing from the inventive design, the decorativesheets can be omitted in their entirety. In this case, during therotation the light patterns would appear to be free floating within thehousing.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12, because the fan is provided as aclear sheet extending outwardly from the light source assembly 220,there is no need for a separate fan and motor to cause the particles 230to move about the housing, to simulate snow fall. This reduces the costand eases the difficulty of manufacture. Additionally, because theparticles are blown about the housing in the air, without the need for aliquid such as water, there is no risk that the liquid will leak if thehousing develops a crack or breaks. Further, because the particles areblown about the housing by the fan, they will keep blowing as long asthe switch is activated. This improves the effect over the prior artsnow globes where the globe is shaken to make the snow move about thehousing. Further, with the right material, the light reflects off of theflying particles, thus creating a pleasing light display.

Although various features of the invention have been described withparticular embodiments. It is considered within one of ordinary skill inthe art to mix and match the features in other embodiments not depictedin the figures.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingcurrent knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applicationssuch specific embodiments without undue experimentation and withoutdeparting from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations andmodifications should and arc intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is tobe understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials,and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take avariety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or anymethod step language, as may be found in the specification above and/orin the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended todefine and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electricalelement or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in thefuture exist which carries out the recited function, whether or notprecisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in thespecification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out thesame functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions begiven their broadest interpretation.

1. A light-up toy comprising: a see-through housing; a base connected tothe see-through housing; a light source assembly rotatably mountedwithin the see-through housing, the light source assembly comprising ahousing and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing; aplurality of light sources mounted on the printed circuit board; a motordisposed within the handle and connected to the power source, having amotor shaft extending therefrom; a power source disposed within the basefor supplying power to the motor; a rotation means disposed within thehandle and connected to the motor shaft, and to the printed circuitboard assembly for rotating the printed circuit board assembly when themotor is turned on; an on/off switch on the base for selectivelyactivating the power source and the motor; a fan extending outwardlyfrom the light source assembly; and a plurality of particles containedin the housing formed of a light-weight material, wherein when the lightsource assembly rotates, the plurality of particles are blown about thehousing by the fan, to simulate snow fall.
 2. The toy of claim 1,wherein the power source comprises at least one battery connected to theprinted circuit board to supply power to the plurality of light sourceslocated thereon.
 3. The toy of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lightsources comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
 4. The toy ofclaim 3, wherein the light emitting diodes are different colors.
 5. Thetoy of claim 1, wherein the see-through housing is dome-shaped.
 6. Thetoy of claim 1, wherein the see-through housing is constructed of aplastic material.
 7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the fan is formed of aclear, light-weight plastic sheet.
 8. The toy of claim 1, wherein thelight source assembly is in the shape of a Christmas tree.
 9. A musicbox comprising: the light-up toy or claim 1; and a music assembly thatplays music when turned on.
 10. The music box of claim 8, wherein thefan is formed of a clear, light-weight plastic sheet.
 11. The music boxof claim 8, wherein the light source assembly is in the shape of aChristmas tree.